cau4 ging6遒勁遒劲
Jyutpingcau4 ging6
Yalechàuh gihng
Definition
Vigorous and powerful, especially describing strokes in calligraphy or painting.
writtendescriptions
How it's used
Primarily reserved for describing the aesthetic quality of calligraphy or traditional ink painting. It implies a sense of structural integrity and muscularity in the strokes, suggesting the artist possesses both technical skill and inner strength. You will rarely hear this used to describe physical human strength, as it is strictly tied to artistic expression.
Examples
This piece of calligraphy is written with such vigorous power.
Their brushwork is so powerful and vigorous, it really has a strong presence.
Related words
Common phrases
vigorous brushwork
powerful and vigorous calligraphy style
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general adjective for strong or energetic, but using it to describe a person or a physical object will sound highly unnatural and overly literary.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
